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A Review of Water Quality Issues Associated with Coal Storage
Author(s) -
Davis Edward C.,
Boegly William J.
Publication year - 1981
Publication title -
journal of environmental quality
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.888
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1537-2537
pISSN - 0047-2425
DOI - 10.2134/jeq1981.00472425001000020001x
Subject(s) - leachate , environmental science , coal , surface runoff , waste management , water quality , leaching (pedology) , coal mining , drainage , environmental engineering , engineering , soil water , soil science , ecology , biology
Literature dealing with runoff from coal storage facilities is scarce and poorly documented. Most of the data reported are derived from the analysis of single grab samples taken from leaching experiments or from onsite sampling during rainfall events. There have been few investigations of the long‐term environmental effects of coal pile leachate with the emphasis on changing water quality. This review identifies potential water quality issues and discusses coal storage conditions that intensify the acid drainage problem. Future research is needed in the development of a standardized laboratory leaching test, in the identification of organic compounds in the leachate, in the treatment of leachates, and in the development and verification of predictive models. These new areas of research should build on the existing literature to define a comprehensive waste management strategy providing for an environmentally acceptable method of onsite storage of large quantities of coal.